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J FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE. 

BEN. WADE of MCCLELLAN. 

AND GENS. HOOKER & HEINTZELMAN'S TESTIiVIONY. 



A (mUSIlINGi HEYIEW OF LITTLE KAFOLEOiV'S MILITARY 



;ia.llEEii. 



(^Frvni the dndnnat! Gazette, Oct. 24, 1864.) 

The principal portion of Mr. Wade's speech at Mozart Hall, last Tuesday 
night, in which he reviewed the military career of General McClellan, was omit- 
ted from our report by reason of the neglect of our reporter to vyrite it out. As 
the Senator crowded the most telling facts into a short space, we give that part of 
his speech to-day : 

In the fall of 1861, Mr. Chandler and myself feeling that the army was la- 
boring under some serious defect somewhere, by reason of which no progress was 
)nade, went off to the army to satisfy ourselves, and if possible discover where tlie 
difficulty lay. It vras at a time when the very capital of the nation was almost in 
a state of seige, when foreign nations began to look upon us as a conquered peo- 
ple, and when all the friends of the government were overwlielmed with shame 
»nd humiliation. Smarting under the effect of this state of things we went down 
to the camp and found a man who was the General-in-Chief of the whole ancy 
of the United States. We found him in command of 190,000 of the best men that; 
ever marshaled under the banner of battle. Never was an army got together, 
comprising the patriotism and intelligence that were found under that General. 
It was the first rally of the patriotic host — the flower of the Eepublic to save the 
nation from destruction. Gro and converse with the soldiers and you will find 
men there more worthy to govern than many who are elected to govern them. 

I told you that there were 190,000 of such men in the "grand army." A 
military man of France said that the like was never seen on the face of the earth. 
Such an army and with such supplies ! He said that a French army of the same 
strength would subsist upon what was wasted. And yet the rebels were almost 
in sight of the capital, flouting their rattlesnake flag in our very faces. How 
could you ask us to submit to this degradation without at least knowing the reapoii 
for its necessity? We had an interview with Gen. MeClcUan, and remonstrated 
with him for permitting this disgrace and dishonor of a great nation. We exhor- 
ted him, for God's sake, to at least push back the defiant traitors. Why can' 
you do it? 

" Oh, I have not men enough ? " (Laughter.) 

How many men have you? I know you have 160,000. 

" Well, you have got nearer the number than others have." 

And more, I know that you have 190,000. How strong, pray tell, are the 
rebels ? 

'• Oh, they are at least 220,000 or more, and they are behind fortifications 
stronger than those of Sebastopol." 

Well, I could not dispute with him on that point, because I had not been 
t'nre to see, but I did not believe a word of it, neither does any Democrat in the 
Unifed States believe it. (Laughter.) I simply told him that to have got to- 
gether such a number as that, and to have supplied themeelves with foraMdable 



2 

armor, tho rebels must possess some of the qualities of CMirist in making brciid. 
(Ureat laughter.) 

" Believe it or not," said McClellan, " I have it on the best authority. A 
pontleman dined with me yesterday direct from Beauregard, and he reported that 
number. ' 

Where is that gentleman now ? 

" I dont kuow^?" 

Well, I can guess. I think he is dining with Beauregard to-day and telling 
him exactly how many men you have i^nt. (Laughter and prolonged applause.) 

We complained to Abraham Jvincoln, and urged the necessity ot making 
Kome change in the command olthe army; but Mr. Lincoln replied that Mr. Mc- 
Clellan was a good General, whom it would not do to disturb, and with this we 
were compelled to leave the White House, with the rattlesnake flag Haunting its 
f:onten)pt in our very faces. 

Well, Congress met and we turned to that body with some hope that an im- 
pression would be made. There were 20(1,000 fighting men by this time in the 
Army of the Potomac. I know the exact number from the records of the War 
office, and I speak by the book. And there was the <^nemy confronting our 
f^])iendid host and there was not a man over 40,000 of them. 

We waited upon General Butler, a man who generally knows what he is 
nbout (tremendous applause) and asked him if he knew anything about this 
enemy that is so dishonoring and putting us to shame. General Butler Viad pos- 
t<^d him.^elf greatly to our satisfaction. The Governors of the rebel States had 
funnmunicated to their Legislatures the number of troops that their States respec- 
tively had furnished. You know that the Governors could not be likely to un- 
derstand the number, for each one would be disposed to make his State look as 
large as possible. Gen. Butler had gathered these facts and putting them all 
together there were but 10,000 of them all, in round numbers ! 

I then waited upon Gov. Johnson, protesting against this state of things, and 
asked him to go down to (ion. McClellan and remonstrate against this disgrace. 
We went together, and what did we find ? We found Gen. McClellan construct- 
ing some pontoon bridges so that they might have the means of safe retreat, in 
ease something should happen! (Great laughter and applause.) Knowing that 
there were 200,000 of our men against 40,000 rebels. I was somewhat indignant, 
and told Gen. MeClellan that I would burn those pontoon bridges in the faces of 
the soldiers, and let them know that they had got to whip the enemy or be lost. 
But that policy did not suit Gen. McClellan. I was hasty — unmilitary and in- 
judicious. 

No kV there are some circumstances that led me to doubt his being a true 
man. T will not call him a traitor, but I will give you facts and you can judge 
whether he was a traitor or a coward. 

We took the testimony of the corps commanders, (.billing up each one as 
questioned about the situation. Gen. M'Dowell, what do you know about the 
strength of the enemy ? Their reply was that they were not permitted to get any 
Huch information. Should a deserter or a contraband come '• into our lines the 
corps commanders are forbidden to question him about the enemy," but the order 
was imperative to send the witness oflf to Washington to be examined by Gen. 
McClellan. (Laughter.) 

What does this all mean? Gen Sumner can you tell us what this means? 

" No, I cannot tell, but such is the peremptory order." 

The only explanation of which sucli an order was susceptible, was that (ie»- 
McClellan desired to exclude the facts from everybod}'^ el.«e, so that, lie could ex- 
aggerate the number of the enemy and thus deceive the President, Congress and 
the country ! (Indignation.) I cannot come to any other conclusion. Jie had 
some purpose in that, and I leave you to judge of it in the light of the many other 
curious facts in this General's military career on the Potomac. 



3 



When General McClellan was solicited, for the sake of a distressed country, 
to cross the river, he hes'itated, doubted and said it was dangerous — (great laugh- 
ter,) it might l>7-ing on a general, engagement ! (Renewed laughter.) 

Why, Gneral McClellan, I thought that was what you desired, as you are so 
strongly fortified in this American Sebastopol. I thought you would be glad to 
get him out of his intrenchments and meet him on fair terms ! But no, he would 
not move. 

At last things got so desperate that no one could stand it any longer, except 
General McClellan himself, and those just like him. (Applause.) So, Oid Abe 
finally got his back up, and gave McClellan positive orders to move on a certain 
day. • t 

What did this " Young Napoleon" do then? He did what he had never 
done before — called a council of war ! He gathered in twelve of his Generals, 
and managed to get eight of them to decide it inexpedient to move ; that it waa 
extremely dangerous. Four of them stood out to the last, and begged the Gen- 
eral-in Chief to move ; but he had a large majority that voted it dangerous. 

But Old Abe was inexorable, and said to McCMellan, ''Go, or I will find some 
one who will move." Upon this, he made a movement, growling and grumbling 
about getting smashed up, and you know the result. - j 

7'hrre it is, (pointing to a stick of timber with one end painted black, lying on 
a table to his right) — a "Quaker gun ! " General McClellan found what few 
fortifications they had, mounted with such guns as that, and some of the earth- 
works were inadequate to any kind of armor. 

The victorious legions of Gen. McClellan came back, and then it was that 
the campaign down the Peninsula was planned. I desire the facts to be under- 
stood, so that Mr. Lincoln mav be relieved of the ehanre of robbins; Gen. MeClel- 
Ian of his troops, and so interfering with him that he could do nothing. 

It was at this time that we insisted upon the division of the forces into army 
corps. Up to this period that necessary work had not been done. It is true 
that we were not educated in military science, but we consulted the books and 
found that they all agreed that a large army must be divided into corps in order 
to be handled in battle with advantage. This was so in accordance with common 
sense, that we considered the Union cause hopeless unless it should be done. We 
took the books to the Secretary of War, and to the President, and urged thi.s 
matter. They saw it in the same light, and urged Gen. McClellan to do it; but 
he refused. Why? For no other reason that could be discovered than that it 
would displace some of his favorites. 

He now resolved to go the Peninsula route to Eichmond. Mr. Lincoln, 
knowing that there was a strong rebel army lying near Washington, said to 
McClellan: "In my judgment, the true line of advance is to attack the rebel 
army, meantime interposing your army between the rebels and Washington. But 
I am not a military man, and you are ; and if your council of war is unanimous 
on this subject you may take your own route to Richmond, if you will leave arf" 
army corps here to defend the capital." [Applause.] You will take notice of 
these ficts, because there has been an attempt to grossly deceive the people iu 
respect to the part which Mr. Lincoln played in this most disastrous and dis- 
graceful campaign. Mr. Lincoln did not advise that route, but left it to the 
General-in-Chief, under the advice of his council of war. [Applause.] But 
McClellan never called a council on that question. And in spite of this condi- 
•Jon, he took his army and sailed away for Yorktown. 

How many men did he take there? We have the most conclusive evidence 
that he took every man of 120,000! How many rebels were there at York- 
town ? We have the testimony of Mr. Broughton, as truthful a man as ever 
lived, at that time Senator from that part of Virginia, and since dead. He 
boarded at the same table with Magruder at the time McClellan landed. Ma- 
gruder had no more idea that he could stay there than in the infernal regions. 



Their forces did not exceed 9,000, all told, and they were ready to run. They 
only waited to see what the Yankees could do; and when they saw McCIellan <io 
into the swamps, bogs, and ague ponds, to throw up intrenchments, they laughed, 
and concluded they would take their own time for running away. [Great merri- 
ment.] 

One of the first things McCIellan did after liis arrival at that fatal marsh, 
was to send up to Washington a call for more men. [Great laughter.] The 
nest demand was foi' siege guns and all the essentials of a siege, for a siege he 
had determined upon with 120,000 men, confronting less than 9,000 ! And thus, 
for seven fatal weeks, his men stood in the ague mud up to their waists, and 
delved and delved, in preparation for the capture of that enormous army ! [Great, 
sensation.] The rebels knew how rapidly the Yankees would fall before the 
miasma of the swamps, and were glad to let them dig in quiet. McCIellan lost 
more men in that monstrous folly, to call it by no worse a term, than would have 
fallen in the five pitched battles. His corps commanders begged the privilege 
of capturing that little scjuad. Brave old 8umner and Hooker implored the priv- 
ilege, but it was denied. He had resolved upon a siege, and a siege he would 
have at any rate ! [indignation.] 

But finally he was as much astonished before Yorktown, as he had been be- 
fore the Quaker guns at Manassas. He woke up one morning and found that the 
rebels had quietly moved out and gone beyond his reach. [8hame.] 

This achievement was dispatched by Gen. McCIellan as a glorious victory, 
and begged the privilege of inscribing "Yorktown " upon the banners of our 
brave soldiers! [Great laughter.] Great God! These soldiers would have 
scorned to disgrace themselves by any such inscription. That " glorious vic- 
tory " they were anxious to forget as soon as possible, and they well knew that 
'' Yorktown " on their banners would disgrace them to the end of their days ! 
[Applause.] History must forever tell the plain story, that a small squad de- 
tained McCIellan with his great army at Yorktown, in order to gain time for com- 
pleting the defenses of Itichmond and the concentration of the rebel army ! 

The evacuation was followed by the battle of Williamsburg. Some of the 
forces had followed the retreating rebels, and encountered the enemy in consid- 
erable strength at that place. But there was so much quarreling among the 
generals that they came nigh being defeated. 8o said Hooker, Sumner and 
Kearney. But we won the fight without the Commander-in-Chief, as our brave 
boys are always bound to win when properly led. [Great applause.] Where 
was McCIellan? He remained at Yorktown, where it was perfectly safe. (jlen. 
Sprague came back for him, but he would not go, and said to him, "I should 
think the Generals might settle a little matter like that!" At night, however, 
just as the battle was won, McCIellan arrived, and Hooker and others testify 
under oath that by a vigorous efi'ort Richmond might liave been taken. McCIel- 
lan got there just in time to order a halt, (great laughter,) and again while he 
waited, the enemy continued to fortify the rebel city 

Then came the battles of Fair Oaks and Seven Pines. The great General 
(lauo-hter) divided his army, and put half on one side and half on the other side 
of the Chickahominy. A flood came, and the two wings were separated by the 
torrent. 

The enemy assailed the half beyond tlie river, and overpowered it in spite 
of <»reat bravery. The next day, without waiting for orders, Gen. Sumner hur 
ried his men across the Chickahominy to save the army. Then was fought t''>e 
battle of the Seven Pines, and our men were victorious. The brave Hooker was 
in front, as he always is, (great applause,) and the enemy flying before Im". 
They were within four miles of Bichmond, but McCIellan again came up just in 
timee to order a halt! [Laughter.] Our otlicers swore and our men cursed, 
whil Hooker in vain begged the privilege of going into Eichmond. But while 



the people of that city were paekincj up for a departure, McCIelhin halted and 
commenced throwins; up immense embankments ! [Laughter and applause.] 

And now, with Jackson in Western Virginia, with a powerful army, McClel- 
lan commenced howling for more troops. To give him more would have been to 
lose Washington, and "judging from his operations thus far, he would not have 
taken Richmond with all tlie troops in the world. 

The battle of Gaines' Mills was by some great blunder fought by one corps 
only in the immediate vicinity of several others. Colonel Alexander testifies that 
he visited McClellan in his headquarters, and found him so disheartened, that he 
was preparing to abandon the campaign. He had already draicn ujp orders direc- 
ting everij man to destroy what he had, and save himself as best he could. [Great 
sensation.] Thus our splendid army in danger of being destroyed by the cowar- 
dice of its commander ! Such is the testimony of Colonel Alexander. 

Then came the attack of the enemy. They fell upon us in force,_and our 
pcattered army was overpowered and ordered to retreat to the James Eiver. In 
this retreat General McClellan, for the first time in his life, was found in the front! 
[Uproarous laughter and applause,] running away as fast as his horse could carry 
him. This achievement he published to the world as the greatest feat in the 
annals of war, changing his base in the fiice of the enemy. [Laughter.] 

A Creneral who was not a coward, would have now led his soldiers and tri- 
umphed with them or died in his tracks. Our forces concentrated at Malvern 
Hill. Gen. McClellan simply rode along the lines of the army half an hour before 
the battle commenced, and then vy'Uhdrc.io vnth his staff on hoard a gunboat. Gen. 
Sumner had the command, and he testified before the committee that he suffered 
terribly in anxiety because, not knowing fully the disposition of our forces,^ he 
had to select his re-enforcements at random. He happened to make the right 
movements, and the enemy was repulsed everywhere, the rebels throwing down 
their arms in terror. Hooker and Sumner agreed in testifying that there was 
nothing to prevent our following up the victory and taken Ptichmond. But where 
was McClellan? There he was, on a gunboat, amidst his wine and cigars, giving 
no attention to the operations in the field. The Commanders in that battle knew 
not where he was, and his situation was such that he could know nothing of them. 
When Gen. McClellan was before the Military Committee he was asked where he 
was during the engagement and his reply was, that he could not remember where 
he was ! [Great laughter.] But Colonel Griswold knew where he was and others 
knew where he was. There he was with his staff drinking wine and smoking 
cigars, and meditating a surrender of the army. He said to them : ''J shall have 
to surrender this army ; toe shall have to acknowledge their independence ; they have 
fairly won if and we must surrender ! " He had taken refijge on a gunboat so that 
when the army surrendered he would not be compelled to surrender himself. 
This treacherous intention he entertained till couriers announced that the rebels 
were repulsed at every point, and then he dare not surrender a victorious army. 
[Great applause.] And that man you talk about making President of the United 
States. ["No ; never."] 

Here again he told his Generals they had done enough and ordered their 
retreat to Harrison's Landing. The old war-worn hero Gen. Kearney, said that 
"a man who would give such an order as that was either a coward or a traitor ! " 
[Applause.] The soldiers retreated breathing curses against the order, and they 
were so demoralized by it, that a force of ten thousand men could have defeated 
them ! 

But we are told that the army is going to vote for McClellan. Have you 
seen the returns of the soldiers' vote ? Is it not something like five to one againsi 
him ? [Applause.] No, a true American soldier will vote neither for a coward 
nor traitor. [Applause.] 

Well Gen. Pope was sent down to Fredericksburg to watoh the enemy that 
they might not fall upon Gen. McClellan in his retreat and dest}x)iJilia_^Now. 



6 

much has been said about (ion. Pope, but I say he was one of the truest and most 
efficient of our officers. [Applause.] I say this in opposition to tlie ooniinoti 
opinion, but 1 say what I believe will some day be made to appear. Gen. Pope 
was ordered to dispute every inch of ground and hold the enemy in clieck til! 
re-enforcements should arrive. Gen. McClellan had the most positive orders 
from Gen. Ilalleck to hurry to his relief, but delayed day after day, and tlien 
wrote to the President, "Is it best to join Pope, or leave him to get out of his 
scrape liimself." [Profound sensation.] 

Gen. McClellan does not give this History in his report. Apochryphal New 
Testament is divine in comparison with that report. [Laughter.] lie suppressed 
every thing that makes against him. 

He says in that book that the reason why he did not follow up the enemy 
after the battle of Antietam, was because he had no reserves. This was not so, 
for Gen. Sumner said there were plenty of them- Fitz John Porter had not been 
in the fight at all. Large forces were anxious to be led on to the fight, but were 
held back by that great General. [Laughter.] An officer was asked, why did 
not McClellan crush Lee after the battle? "Oh, that was not in the programme." 
What was in the programme ? "It was to protract the war till both parties were 
tired, and settle all difficulties under a Democratic Administration." [Great 
sensation.] 

And this is the great man that was to get the soldiers' votes, and become 
President of the nation. [Laughter.] 

Mr. AVade continued by referring to the late elections, that gave the most 
positive assurance that this rebellion will be soon crushed, and all our troubles 
will be settled, in a way that will be glorious to our arms and satisfactory to the 
friends of liberty and law all over the globe. 



McCLELLAN'S GUNBOAT EXPERIENCE. 



The Newark (N. J.) Advertiser has the following : 

The following corres})ondence explains itself. It is only necessary to aay that Dr. Van 
Gieson is well known in this city, and the statements made in this letter have been frequently 
repeated to persons here : 

"Newark, Oct. 7. 

" Dear Sir : I remember soon after your return here from the James river, where you 

acted as Su rgeon on the gunboat Galena, hearing you state that General McClellan was on board 

(luring the retreat of our army to Harrison's Landing, and during the battles of Glondale and 

Malvern Hill. Having frequently heard it reluted, I take the liberty of writing to be assured. 

"Yours truly, 

"A. Van Winkle. 
'• To R. E. Van Gieson, M. D., Englishtown, Monmouth county, N. J." 

REPLY. 

"P]NGLISHTOWtf, N. J., Oct. 10. 

"My Dk.vr Sir: Yours of the 7th instant was received in due time. Agreeably to your 
request I will write the facts concerning General McClellan 's pre.sence on board the United Stato-s 
steamer Galena, which I have so frequently stated to you and many other of my friends in 
Newark. 

" In doing so I must confess my utter surprise that my testimony should be needed to sub- 
stantiate a fact already so well established tliat no sane person, whether he side with him or 
against him, personally or politically, can doubt it. 

" Even McClellan himself, in giving his testimony upon this identical question, admits b/ 
implication that he was present, although apparently ashamed to answer the direct questirn. 
He retreats under the cover of a defective memory. His answer, you recollect, is, 'I do not 
remember. It is jiossible I may have been ; my camp was near the river.' How is it; that Gen. 
McClellan's memory should become so wonderfully oblivious to his long and wearisome stay 
upon the quarter-deck and in the cabin of the Galena is to me entirely une.xplaiuable, for he cer- 
tainly was present in the body, if perchance absent in the spirt, and^ate, drank, walked, smoked 
and talked like any other man. 

" An event of such importance, at such a critical time, is, as you may well suppose, as m- 
delibly stamjjed upon my memory as the answer to the first question in the 'Shorter Catechism. 

" My eyet^ were ccji.«"tantly upon him, and my ears upon the alert both to learn the man and 
to catch some tidiutf" ^^ the situation of which we had most ominous forebodings. 



"My observations and impi-essions made at that time were written at the time in my daily 
journal now lying before me, from which I give you the essential facts of the case under con- 
sideration. 

" On the morning of June 30th, 1802, the Galena, at that time flagship of the squadron, lay 
near Ilaxall's Landing. I was on the morning of that day sent on shore to inspeet some of thu 
wounded who had been sent to the river bank for transportation, and after having returned on 
boai'd with Cajjtain Rogers, learned that another battle was expectied during the afternoon of 
Iho same day. About 2 P. M., we ran to the conjectured headquarters of General McClellan. 
Oaptain Rodgers here went on shore, and after a short absence brought McClellan on board with 
liim. lie was received by the oflicers in undress uniform, and was accompanied by the Prince 
<1p Joinville and his two nephews, and others of lesser note, whom I did not particularly notice, 
as my whole attention was concentrated upon McClellan. Near 4 P. M., Lieutenant Clum of 
the Signal Corps, then stationed in the foretop, reported 'Enemy advancing in large force u])on 
the left.' We ran up some distance further, where we could distinctly hear an almost incessant 
roar of artillery, mingled with volleys of mtiskctry, apparently aboiit a mile or two oH". Wi' 
then commenced throwing shells upward (the banks, or rather blulls, being quite high) and to 
the left. In a few moments we received signal, 'Your shells doing well.' We continued thus 
jiriug until sundown during which we received the following dispatches : ' McCall is break- 
ing;' ' Sumner is having a hard time. ' Mc(Jlellan then left the Galena for the field — about l) 
p. M. The last dispatch received was late in the evening. 'Our men bringing in enemy's 
wounded.' 

"Near midnight it was rumored that we had held our position and captured one thousand 
prisoners. And so ended the battle of Glendale. 

"On Tpesday, July lat, 1862, at about 9 A. M., Gen. McClellan again came on board, look- 
ing jaded, anxious and weary. At 10 A. M. we proceeded down the river as far as Harrison's 
Landing — McClellan meanwhile went into the cabin to take a. little sleep. At 12:30 P. M., 
McClellan came from the cabin and took passage in a tug with Gen. Franklin to the encamp- 
ment. In about an hour McClellan returned, when we immediately started up the river, hear- 
ing heavy living as we j)assed up. Near Carter's dock it increased to a perfect roar. McClellan, 
though quietly smoking a cigar upon the quarter deck, seemed anxious, and looked inquiringly 
■.it the signal oificer, who was receiving a message from shore. In a minute he i'ej)orte(l, 'heavy 
tiring near Porter's division.' Shortly after this — about 4 P. M., a. message came demanding his 
presence in the field, and he left the vessel. 9:30 P. M., firing almost ceased. At 11 P. M., 
McClellan returned, accompanied by Gen. Marcy. Gen. McClellan says : 'They took one gun 
from us yesterday, but to-day we have taken many of their guns and colors.' ' Yes,' said Mar- 
cy, 'we whipped them like the devil to-day,' and with this enctouraging assurance I retired, feel- 
ing quite sure that it came from a 'reliable gentleman.' So ended Malvern Hill. 

"On July 2d we bove anchor at daylight; shortly after we dropped anchor, which was about 
ft A. M., Met'lellan left us. At 9 P. M. he again came on board and remained until 10 A. M., 
July 3d, 1862, when he left us, looking more anxious than pleasant- 

''This was his last apiJcaranee. These are the facts, which, though forgotten by Gen. 
McClellan, are well remembered by the officers of the Galena. 

"And now,! trust I have sufficiently reassured you. If you find rcfuters still, just ask 
them to step down to Washington and consult the log book of the U. S. steamer Galena for June 
.'!Oth, July 1st, .July 2d, July 3d, 1862, where, over the bold signature of 'Fighting John Rod- 
gers,' they will find ample proof of what they so much dread to believe. 
" Truly your friend, 

" R. E. Van Gibsox, M. D., 
"Late Assistant Surgeon, U. S. N. 

"To A. Van Winkle, Newark, N. J." 
. Corroborative evidence is given by the Washington BepuhUcan, in extracts froni the loo--book 
of the Galena, signed by Lieuts. Loring and Washburn. Entries dated June 30, July 1, and 
•fuly 2, record the movement of McClelhin, and show that he was on board the Galena dui'in" 
portions of the three days, and spent at least one night on board. 



GEN. KEARNEY ON McCLELLAN. 

The following extracts from a private letter of the old hero. Gen. Kearney, written on the 
22d of June, 1862, two days before the commencement of the seven days' battles, will be found 
interesting : 

" He has now got us in a queer position, which is neither witty nor bright. The foldeii sea- 
son of attack is lost. We. have allowed them to collect more men, to establish more forts, to plant 
heavier guns, and to try forays in our rear. With all my <lesire of pushing ahead, I think that 
it is now nearly too late ; at least, if M'e do it, it will only be by more hazardous ventures and 
infinitely more bloodshed than at any previous period. Our last chance (the ninth or tenth 
thrown away) was after the battle of Fair Oaks, when all our troops should have been brought 
into action, and our way forted into Richmond. Then it might, and most probably would have 
b^.'Cn, successful. 

"Now, I must say that McClellan has calmly resigned himself to wailing for reenforeements. 
But in doing this the enemy collects two men to our one, while McClellan testifies his fears by 
throwing up fortifications at every point, as if we were a beaten .army. He breaks down the 
men by overwork, and cowers them by his proof of distrust, and you will soon find that tlic 
enemy will throw himself on our communications; and repeat his forays — perhaps, even to forc- 
ing us to retire to cover them. McClellan is no General, with all bis talents. He has not the 



8 > ' 

remotest aptitude for war. I sometimes foar from his managemont of this war, thg-t he regards 
it more in a jioliticcal than a military point of view — that he desiras to time his military (^onquest 
with a certain political ripeness of the South — at best a very hazardous matter when itws with 
the astute and wily and unprincipled Southerner that he attempts to play such a garrie ; and 
when one rcilecta that it engenders delay, which is the sure defeat of all armies." 



TESTIMONY OF MAJOR-C-ENEEAL JOSEPH HOOKER, REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON THE CON- 
DUCT OF THE WAR. PART I. 

" From my oxaminatinn of thn works at Yorktcnvn, and reaching away be3'.)nd tlip position tliat I oconpieil, T 
fpit that tlicir tines coulii be pi'U-ced tliroiigh without any consifioraljle Iihs hy ITeiiit/elman'B corps. \V(! could 
liavc i^.me rijht tlirou>;h, ami ^one to the rear of the enemy. Tlioy would have run the iiioineut we got to th« rear." 

Q(t«'s/ioii.— " Suppo.se that tjeueral JlcClellau had thrown his army between Yorktown aud Williamsburg with 
ai mucli r.ipidity as h'. could, what wouUl probably liave Ix^eu tlie effect ?" 

Ausiner. — " It would have resulted iu the capture and destruction of the enemy's army?" 

In relation to ttie battlo of Willlauisburg, he states, tliat " duriu'i the night (succee.tin£;th?> battled the enemy 
ev.acuated Williamsburg. I have since learned, that when the iieivs of the battle reached Hielnuond, .leffersoii 
l>avis and Governor Letcher moved their families out of Hichmond, removed the archives and their libraries ; and 
every citi/.eii who could command a vehicle had his goods piled on wagons, .and prepa red to ab in Ion the city." 

Question. — " Is it your judgment that you could have gone into Richmond tbeu?" 

Annwer. — I think we could have moved right on, and got into llichmind by the second day after that battle 
without another gun being tired." 

Again, as to tlie results of the defeat of the rebels at Fair Oaks, he thus answers the 

Queslioii. — Suppose that the next day .after this repulse of the enemy at F'air Oaks, General McCIellan had 
bronght his whole army across the Ghickahominy, and made a vigorous njoveiaent upon ilichm ond, in your judg- 
ment, as a military man, what would have bieu the elfect of the mnvemcTit?" 

Ansioer.^ln answer 1 would say, that at ao time during th3 whole of tiiat campaign did I fe^l that we could 
not go to Richmond." 

Once more, as to the battle of 5[n,lvern, he answers the 

QiiestUm. — Could yon have gone inio Kichmond after that fight ? 

Jn^irer. — •" I have no doubt we could." 

He thus replies to the 

Question. — To what do you attribute the ftilure of the peninsula camp.aign ? 

Answer. — " I do not hesit.itoto say that it is to be altributid to i;ho waut of gen-^ralship on the part of our 
commander," or as the answer is elsewhere more strongly reported, " As I n-iti on oath I mast answer the question, 
Tlie failure of that movement was owing to the incompe.lencij of tlie coinmiui-'liHg General.^'' It was then thmght 
incredible that the ch.irge against a commanding General could assume a deeper dj'3 — one dcmauding from the 
I'rovost Marshal the employment of a corporal's guard. 



GENERAL HEINTZELMAN'S TESTIMONY. 

General Heintzelraan testilies that after the battle of (raiues's Mill " [ got a telegram that Gen. ^[cOlellan 
wished to see me immediately — I went over there, and found them (headquarters) all packed up ready to move. 
The General staled the condition of alfairs, and what he proposed to do. One thing was to move across to the 
James river. The other plan was to collect all thy troops and hav(! a b.ittle tiie next day, and lUrow everi/thiwj up- 
on the result of that battle. I asked hiin what would be the result if we lost. He said that if we loere defeated the urmi) 
would be lost,' but that he was inclined to risk everything upon that battle. I told him that it was of vital imiior- 
tance to the country to save that army ; that we would ba ruined if that army was lost ; and that I thought it w.ib 
better for us not to tight that battle, but to fall back to the .lames river; that we conld reach there with a loss, 
l)erhaps, of a few pieces of siege artillery and some wagons." 

Question. — Wits the seven days battle fought under the direction and ordjrs of Gen. McCIellan, or did each 
corps Commander tight his own troops as lie thought best ? 

Answer. — The corps Commanders fought their troops entirely .nccording to their own ideas. We hilped each 
other. If anybody asked for reinf )rrein''nts,^I s'ut tliMii. If I wante I r ■iuforcen\_'nH, I seat to others. 

Question. — Do yon mean to say that that tight was not under the direction, guidance, and control of General 
McCIellan, so far as the movements of the troops w, us concerned ? 

Answer. — Getteral McCIellan posted ths troops in the ra )rning, and then went off to his head-quarters, and 
wc did not see anything more of him. 

Question. — Do you consider that a General who posts his troops in tin morning, and then goes off and loaves 
the corps Commanders to take the direetion of the moveniints of th ; troops under them during the day's 
fighting, can be said himself to direct the battle? 

Ansii-ttr. — Well, sir; he was the most extrairdinary man I erer saw! I do not see how any man conld leave 
80 much to others; and be so confident that everything would go just right." 

The National Union Association of Ohio. 

Headquarters: Catholic In.stitute (First Floor), N. W. Cor. Viae & Long-worth Sts., Cin'tl- 
Weekhj Meetings in Mozart Hall each Tuesday & Saturday night until Noo. 12, 1864. 

Dr. WILLIAM SHERWOOD, President. | S. S. DAVIS, Treasurer. 

JOHN D. CALDWELL, General Secretary. \ Hon. EDWAKD WOODRUFF, ChairmaH Ex. Oom. 

Chairmen op Stib-Committkks ; — Finance — Henry Kessler. Campaign — S. C. Newton. ]{all, SpeaTxcr*, <tr, — Ed- 
gar Conkling. Documents, Printing, ttc. — Hon. Kd. Woodrntf. E.tpendilurei and Accounts — Colonel A. 

Watson. 

Printed and PnhlLslaed by CALEB CLARK, S. W. Cor, Third and Walnut Sts., Cincinnati. 



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